CAC price & use

BlackCaviar posted a very good overview of what many players have invested to make CAC in the feedback thread. I would like to continue the discussion about CAC, price and use, but the feedback thread is not the right place, so I started this one.

Price: The price of CAC in my market (with exceptional periods) have been between 50k and 60k CC. That may seem a lot to spend every day. But if you have harvester machinery and use 1x1 plots it pays off very quickly:

• Say you use the main field and green meadow for crops, one harvest from 1x1 plots with CAC yields 1200 crops.
• Say you can sell a crop with a profit of 50 CC (after market fee).
• Then for one harvest of those two fields you earn 1200*50=60k CC, the cost of the CAC.

In my market right now I can find several short crops (less than 4hrs) that I can sell for that profit. For instance one harvest of sage, 3 hrs 11 minutes with water, pays for more than the CAC. Then you have the benefit of the CAC for the rest of that day, and lets not forget the morning harvest. So when people say that CAC is too expensive, I don't understand what they mean. If you don't have the harvester, the situation is of course different.

Use: All the time I see references to using Pinkie Pie Pie (PPP) to extend CAC. For my use I have never seen any reason to do that. Unless I only have animals out, I eat one CAC each morning. It lasts 18hrs, so if it runs out, it is a reminder that I should be in bed instead of farming I know about two reasons for using PPP:

• For an event some eat 6 CAC and then a PPP, then the CAC will last almost until the end of the event, and you don't have to worry about forgetting it.

If you tend to forget, this can be a solution, but if not consider this: CAC extended with PPP lasts less than 24hrs, so you don't gain any time doing this. You could just as well eat one CAC every morning and save the PPP.

• Some eat CAC + PPP, the effect is almost 24 hrs, then right before it runs out, plant a long term crop, then eat CAC + PPP right before harvesting again. This way you can get away with less than 1 CAC per day.

I see the benefit of this, but it is just not for me. To much planning involved to make the timing right, and then there is a chance I would just forget the CAC when I don't get it at the same time each day.

If anyone have another view on the subject CAC+PPP I would like to hear it The reason I take this up is that PPP prices have increased a lot (used to be really cheap) and I would hate to think that players are wasting the PPP.

 

Due to my RL work situation, I get a couple of days or three days where I can farm constantly and some days when I can come in only a couple of times.
I use the CAC + PPP for those days when I am home, so I can max out the use of CAC and also need less. Of course I am at a stage where I am still building up my farm (back to back events help with the super fast levelling up, but dont help with building stock or CC's). It costs less over all because PPP is cheaper than a CAC. I need the crops myself for various quests to get stars for the runes.
Once I have most of the runes, I suppose I will be able to sell to make stuff pay for itself.
I like your strategy of selling stuff like Sage.

 

But do you farm for more than 18hrs a day those days? If not, how do you need less CAC if you use PPP? Just trying to understand

 

I use them like we do on events, so I do not forget to start them. I start the CAC + PPP just before my first harvest. Then I can have 2 CAC's lasting over almost the entire period I can farm. If I am online, I do the short terms crops, if I need to run chores or stuff I do the longer. It also ensures I do not forget to start a CAC because on 1 x 1's without CAC's it is not worth it.

 

Thank you

 

I remember when we first got the PPP one of our math whiz players (math has never been my strongest asset) figured out that we could eat 5 CAC (I think, memory is not that great either) and add a PPP and it would be like getting a free CAC. Of course CAC was more expensive back then and the cost to reach level 4 to make it was higher also.
It has just become habit with me to stack my CAC with PPP while I'm growing crops. But there are times when I switch to animal farming and don't use any at all.

 

In one sense this is right:

• 18hrs*1,3*5 = 117hrs
• 18hrs*6 = 108hrs

The problem is, most of the hours you gain by using PPP will be when you sleep, when it does no good. Unless there is more than 18 hrs between your first and last harvest of the day, you can just as well eat a CAC each morning and save the PPP.

Since CAC + PPP is less than 24 hrs 30 CAC + PPP just lasts for a 29,3 days.

This is exactly the reason I brought this up. It seems to be a habit to many, and I just wanted to point out that maybe it is not as beneficial as you think (just to help, hope you don't mind me using your statement JJ). Of course you may want to continue with what you are doing, convenience should not be undervalued

Another reason I brought it up is that I often see advice given to new players that they should use PPP with CAC to get the most out of the CAC. Considering the price of CAC now, I am not so sure that is good advice, at least not without further explanation.

 

For me, I am able to get the extra 12 hours without paying for a third one, because I would not have time to run them three whole days anyway.

Next time, I'll try with using one CAC every morning instead and see what happens.

 

I see, that is a good point Tinni If you start the CAC later in the day, rather than in the morning, the PPP helps more (the extra hours will be next day, and not during the night)

 

Wait a second... You can use 5/6 CAC at once and the effect just stacks? Second, i use at most 2 CAC for an event in order to be able to complete the event.... Why use 5/6 of them? I also do the whole 2x2 field for the first few hundred crops and then switch to the 1x1 fields for the rest of the time. I guess maybe i have more playable time then most?

 

Yes, you can eat several artisan products at once, and the effect is extended 2xCAC will last for 36 hours

I use CAC every day I grow crops, not only during events It pays off, like I explained in the first post

 

I never knew that... I thought it would just restart the time of the buff... Good to know And yes with the maths you posted above, i can see why using a CAC each day would pay off. I typically only use them during events because i only ever had a few if any in stock. As of lately i seem to have an influx of them because i have not had to use any for events. I used one for this event due to my work schedule which allowed me to use it for 16 of the 18 hrs it was available lol. I may have to look into using them as im finally to the point of producing the 12-18hr crops as i have a decent (well what i consider decent) supply of everything under 12 hrs.

 

If you get the cloud row from this event, you will soon have a lot more CAC

 

Just got it last night Took longer to get the markers then it did the crops lol

 

I've been known to farm in my sleep before It is a matter of convenience too but with prices of CAC falling and the prices of PPP rising definitely something to consider.

If I was going to run 1 CAC w/PPP this is the way I would suggest to do it

 

Sleep farming now that is something to consider

 

I don't use PPP with CAC unless I am running other buffs. In other words, it is just a coincidence. If we have an event that has a step requiring EP collection (usually timed) then I will stack 3 CB (Carrot Bread, silver slot, 4 hrs x 3, 20% buff, crop only) with 1 ZAB (Zucchini Apple Bread, gold slot, 18 hrs. 60% buff, crop only) and one of the following: 1 EM (Easter Marmalade, gold slot, 12 hrs, 30% buff, any type), 1 SW (Spring Wreath, gold slot, 12 hrs., 30% buff, any type) or SRJ x2 (Sweet Rose Jam, gold slot, 8 hrs x 2, 20% buff, any type). Then the PPP is worth using and gives you coverage for most of the day. Always, Always set up your best EP crops (if you have a choice) the night before. Please note: CB and ZAB only work on crops so if it is EP from anything else, use two of the three (EM, SW or SRJ) whichever you have available.

 

The advantage to CACwPPP as I see it is twofold. I am one of the forgetful types so I like to stack& extend to avoid forgetting to start the next one.

The second time is at lower levels when you don't have enough CC to buy continually. Early in the game you I would say most probably don't make full use of the market to gain CC and also don't yet have access to the crops ( like your example of sage) that generate the high profits. At one point I could afford to buy at most 1 CAC and 1 PPP per event based on prices in my market. So I used when the first event crops were ready and that allowed 1 more harvest the next morning before it ran out.

 

Thanks Mir85 for opening Separate Thread on CAC. I have been using CAC Ever Since it became the most widely use Buff in our Farms, to boost hording our Crop Stocks.

I am one of these serious crop Farm Hoarders, that have been hoarding thousands and thousands of crops in last couple of year. God Knows how many CAC i have used When CAC first came onto the Scene they were selling for 250K in the Markets. It is sad that since we now have a Cloud Row that Produce CAC every 48 Hours.

CAC Prices in my Market have Fallen down to 45K, Which is fourfold Less when they first appeared in our Markets. But The Cost of Making CAC has not really gotten any cheaper as the Price of Most Crops has Risen to what they use to be in the Markets. Therefore The Profit Margins of Making CAC and Selling to the Markets. Have Fallen Quiet Dramatically over period of Time.

Also be get CAC from Quests and Events too. Also Neighbours can send CAC to Farmers in need of CAC too. I Virtually Have my fields 1x1 most of the time. I have been hoarding Crops for Two Reasons

1. Have At least 100K of Each Crops on the First Seeding Page
2. Hoard as Many Crops as I can to sell for Profits

I have Made Millions of CC this way since i have been playing this game, But I sell my Crops for The Right Price at the Right Time. Over Time most of These Crops have Risen in Price while I am Holding these stocks in my Barn. This is my investment Concept.

I have had sold certain crops at silly prices just a few months ago based on Couple of Events asking for these Crops in High Numbers. I have the Harvester Running all the time which helps reaps all these lovely crops using CAC.

There are Several Crops that can be Grow under 4 Hours that can be sold for Easy CC. I Actually gone one better by Growing Refined Crops. The Advantage of this that I am using CAC for Effectively by reaping these Crops in Lesser Time.

Mir85 Mention the use of PPP with CAC which if Effect Makes CAC last for almost 24 Hours then the 18 Hours, that is normally last !!. But from now on you have to Bear in Mind the Price of CAC has come down alot now. That PPP only Makes CAC 30% more Effective or Productive. Here is An Example of Some Market Facts.

• CAC Selling for 45K in Market
• PPP Now Selling for 15K in Market
• 3 x PPP Now cost = 1 CAC ( So to Speak)

PPP is Really more Effective if you Eat Several CAC in the Diamond Slot. It Kind of Waste of PPP if you only Eat 1 CAC with PPP In Market Value Terms that is 60K Worth of Buffs.

But Since the Price of CAC has fallen or keep Falling But the Price of PPP keeps Climbing then you would need to Change your Strategy to what you was doing in the Past Strategy. It Would Make Sense to Just Use CAC without Using PPP. In an Ideal World that CAC runs out before your harvest your farm before going to Bed so CAC is not being Wasted while you are growing overnight Crops

In My Market CAC cost about 35K to Make but can only be sold for 45K deduct the admin cost. there is no much point to consume 70 Sugar just to Gain Less than 10K. In the Past we could make Lots more CC than This.

Now is Makes Even More Sense to Buy CAC from the Markets use this to Reap Crops than it is to Craft CAC. Since CAC is going to be more affordable.

To All Those who have Harvester Running, Like me can Make Loads of CC. It is a fact than many farmers who buy our Crops from the Markets that we reap and sell to the Markets not have space on farm to grow these needy crops nor or have harvester running or nor have to time to Reap crops on the Scale as I do 1700+ Crops per harvest or 2300+ if used all four Fields.

I Normally Try to Keep CAC running not let it run out so I do not Reap my crops Realising that CAC had run out. I Also leave CAC running overnight too. Eventually you get the Cost of CAC back anyhow really. But I always Plan ahead when i am using CAC do not always use PPP either.

I do not think that price of PPP will not come down in Price in the Markets. Unless Farmers are using Buffs without the need of PPP. This new Trait might goes ok to farmers using CAC if CAC comes down to affordable price Bracaket. But I always use PPP when i am using Spring Wreath and Easter Marmalade

 

Thanks Mir for creating this thread.

Here is the link to my comments in the Feedback thread for those that haven't read them.

For now, because of the market price of CAC (currently 44k on my market), I see no reason to sell it. I may make it for my own consumption but probably not often now that I have the cloud row. I don't have the harvester subscription. I spend my Real Money on the Mill Sub instead. During crop growing events, I run 1x1s with CAC. Otherwise, I run 2x2s on mainland fields and 1x1s only on Baha where I use Pineapple Cake (which I can make myself). Since I only have part of Baha set up for crops, it isn't too bad to manually harvest. The nice thing about PC is that it gives a bonus on my Baha trees as well. I have part of Baha set up with trees and the rest is for pens/workshops. I've been able to level up on Baha quite regularly since I set it up this way. I haven't even been using much in the way of Red Punch to supplement it. Shipwreck Bay does help even though I don't have many items there that give BEP.